Three key newcomers -- Armstead, Edmonds, Wilson -- dish on Dolphins issues in minicamp
Quick hits from three Dolphins key free agent pickups who spoke Wednesday on the first day of a two-day minicamp:
▪ For Mike McDaniel, maximizing a running game that was delinquent last season is nearly as important - if not as important - as bringing out the best of Tua Tagovailoa.
New running back Chase Edmonds explained why this system accentuates the running game:
“I’ve played against it for the last four years,” Edmonds, a former Arizona Cardinal, said of matchups against the 49ers, where McDaniel coached.
“It’s something special with how they disguise everything, the window dressing to make everything look the same. It really confuses the defense and holds the defense to be disciplined and have gap integrity.
“I think that’s something I’m good at, specializing my zone scheme. I’m excited to get into the zone and work my feet, work the rhythm. It’s a different scheme than what I’m used to. I was predominately inside zone, so working my feet, getting used to the outside zone track, getting used to the outside zone feel, how certain lanes feel [is a goal]. Just working to build something special.”
▪ In fact, Edmonds said: “The running back here does a lot. It’s primarily why I came here. I believe in McDaniel, especially out of the backfield because I feel like I can utilize my special abilities coming out the backfield, my route-running and mismatches on ‘backers.”
Edmonds, incidentally, roomed with new Dolphins running back Sony Michel at the NFL Combine in 2018.
▪ For Edmonds, how has the transition been coming from a Kliff Kingbury offense to a McDaniel offense?
“I would actually say it’s probably going to be harder because Kliff was spread and no-huddle. The scheme is always going to be simpler because it’s more about tempo and speed. We would just have one word and then a play. Here, it’s true NFL pro language. That’s what I was doing my rookie year when we had Mike McCoy as my OC.
“So just getting used to the language, hearing an entire play call, understanding what part of the play call is talking to me, what part of the play call is talking to the wide receiver, variations and stuff like that. I’m excited for that challenge.”
▪ New receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. -- who caught 45 passes for 602 yards and six touchdowns for the Dallas Cowboys last season -- succinctly explained how Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle help him:
“The defense is looking at them the whole time so usually I get one-on-one. That’s my job to win.”
We aren’t permitted by the Dolphins to report who’s lining up in the slot, but Wilson said Wednesday: “I feel like I can play both in and outside. I definitely like the slot a little more. I feel like that’s where I strive at and it’s closest to the quarterback so you get the ball easier.”
▪ Wilson, on Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater: “Tua is definitely a little different. I’ve never caught from a lefty but he’s very accurate and the ball is easy to catch. Teddy being the vet that he is, just knowing the game and most of the time teaching us stuff” is helpful.
▪ New left tackle Terron Armstead, on why he’s encouraged about the offensive line: “You see guys like Rob Hunt, Austin Jackson (and they are) just extremely explosive. Like they jump off the film. So those guys are just tapping into what they are becoming as players, as pros. It’s exciting. And then the scheme – the offense that we’re running – it allows you to show those abilities and use that athleticism and explosiveness.”
Armstead, working his way back from a minor offseason knee procedure, said McDaniel’s system “allows the offensive line to be playmakers.
“It’s a tough job. Offensive line is a tough job. You’re tasked with things that are just difficult to get done, especially against the guys that you’re playing against. But this offense allows you to be directly impactful on a lot of plays and to walk away from a play and feel like, ‘I made a play,’ like ‘I caused that run’ – that’s a friendly feeling.”
Without Armstead, the line allowed multiple quarterback pressures on Wednesday.
Here are lots of notes and highlights from Wednesday’s minicamp practice, plus newsy comments from Mike McDaniel and Xavien Howard.
This story was originally published June 1, 2022 at 7:46 PM.
